Of Coups and Cauls by Tyranni Thomas

Author:Tyranni Thomas [Thomas, Tyranni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tyranni Thomas
Published: 2018-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Drayce

My journey to the Savagelands was spent below deck. Cradling a bucket and heaving manically. The current between Zaith and the Barizon was vile. The turbulence forced all but the experienced to take the wider arc to calmer seas. I expected my own soul to be relieved more times than I could count.

“Drayce!” Azaria’s excitement channeled with my name.

I didn’t want to move, I had just settled my stomach, but who could deny that voice. I took a deep breath and hefted myself up from the floor. The ship swayed, and I groaned closing my eyes.

No! They said not to do that. Forcing them open, I swallowed the saliva pooling over my palate and clung to the rails. “I… can’t.” I mumbled, from behind the veil of my dark hair.

“Well, you’re going to have to.” She smiled. “We are home.”

“Home…” I repeated dumbly. Even in a confused state, I didn’t give a damn where we were. I just wanted to put my feet on dry land. I wanted to be able to breath without thoughts of swallowing half the sea should the boat go over.

I scrambled up the stairs, only to nearly fall back down them when the sun smacked me full force. My arm crooked over my eyes, and I groaned, forcing myself to blink against the blinding brightness.

Air was wrangled into my lungs so fast I nearly choked. I had never seen anything so beautiful. The water was crystal blue. I could see every dip and stone on the sea floor and pools of fish with vivid colors. The beach had no rock wall of natural defense. It was miles of wavy sand. Somehow beyond all that, an explosion of dark green took over. A rich, thick forest that seemed to stretch to the sky itself.

“The Savagelands,” I whispered.

“Home.” Azaria smiled.

The water, deep as it might have been, gave the illusion of safety. The clarity of it was almost breathtaking, each wave seemed to coat the sand in a rush of tropical baby blue. Boats dropped by the dozens. Awilda, Kais, Ryett, and Pariah’s armies anchored their ships. There was no backing out now. We were all Savages. We would fight alongside these infamous warriors, and we would either win as their brothers or die alongside them.

I felt more connected to her in that moment than perhaps I ever had. We were rowing to war, and this beautiful Goddess was smiling and poised as if it were another lap around the pond. For the love of the Seers, she was enjoying this.

“You know there will be bodies, right? Men will die?” I didn’t care if the warriors rowing looked at me funny. Someone had to be the sensible one.

Her brows jumped with silent acknowledgement. “It has been known since we left Tauran that there would be battle.” She canted her head, and I could feel her searching me.

“You should be on the ship—” I began, but her face fell into a mask of discontent.

“I… there is no going back, Azaria… if we lose …” I tried, again.

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